Posts by Rebecca Niemiec
AHPC Studies Inform Foie Gras Ban in Portland and Debates in Washington, D.C.
AHPC studies on foie gras have been featured in several media articles about potential foie gras bans in Portland, Oregon and Washington, D.C. A June, 2026 article in NOTUS cited an AHPC study on foie gras prevalence across U.S. cities when discussing the initiative to ban foie gras in Washington D.C.: “A recent study from…
Read MoreNew Study Reveals Psychological Toll of Large-Scale Animal Depopulation on Veterinarians
A new study published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research by AHPC Co- Directors Lori Kogan, PhD, and Rebecca Niemiec, PhD, examines the psychological impact of production-animal depopulation events on veterinarians. Surveying 220 licensed veterinarians, the study found that depopulation can impose a substantial psychological burden and highlights the close connection between animal welfare…
Read MoreAHPC Study Finds Veterinary Communication Shapes Pet Caregivers’ End-of-Life Experiences
A study published in Human-Animal Interactions by Lori Kogan, PhD, AHPC co-director, and Kathleen Cooney, DVM, CHPV, CPEV, demonstrates that the quality of communication between veterinary teams and pet caregivers plays a critical role in shaping end-of-life (EOL) experiences. Surveying 802 U.S. dog and cat caregivers who had recently participated in EOL decision-making for a…
Read MoreNew AHPC Study Highlights Widespread Client Aggression Toward Veterinarians
A new study published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research by AHPC Co- Director Lori Kogan, PhD, and collaborator Mark Rishniw, PhD, reveals that client- perpetrated aggression is a near-universal occupational experience among veterinarians, with substantial psychological and professional consequences. Surveying 1,125 veterinarians, the study found that 99% had experienced verbal abuse from clients,…
Read MoreAHPC Co-director Appointed to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission
From CSU SOURCE: “Gov. Jared Polis appointed Rebecca Niemiec, associate professor in the Warner College of Natural Resources’ Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and founder and co-director of Colorado State University’s Animal-Human Policy Center, to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. Niemiec is one of three new appointments to the commission and will serve a term…
Read MorePeer-reviewed AHPC Study Highlights the Power of Misleading “Ballot Box Biology” Narratives
A new study published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice by researchers at the Animal Human Policy Center and the Center for Human Carnivore Coexistence explored what led voters to reject a 2024 wildlife protection ballot initiative. The study involved conducting intercept interviews with 314 Colorado residents to examine what drove Coloradans to vote against Proposition 127,…
Read MoreAHPC Studies Document the Prevalence of Foie Gras on Menus and Denver Voters’ Support of a Foie Gras Ban
The Animal- Human Policy Center at Colorado State University has released two new studies on foie gras. Denver voter perspectives on foie gras bans To examine public perspectives on foie gras and potential bans on foie gras, we conducted intercept interviews with 100 Denver voters to assess their awareness of foie gras, perspectives on its…
Read MoreAHPC Co-director presents at the CLAW caucus at the Colorado capital
Dr. Rebecca Niemiec presented the findings from a recent AHPC study at the January 21, 2026 CLAW Caucus to legislators and stakeholders at the Colorado State Capital. Specifically, she presented the results from the study, “Lessons Learned from Addressing Animal Cruelty and Neglect Across the United States,” which involved 50 interviews of stakeholders, including investigators,…
Read MoreTwo-thirds of Massachusetts voters back fur ban ahead of Beacon Hill hearing
AHPC Study Finds Strong Public Support for and Limited Impacts to Restaurants from Foie Gras Bans
Public Perspectives and Effective Messaging on Foie Gras in the United States A new study from the Animal-Human Policy Center at Colorado State University examined public knowledge, consumer behavior, and policy support related to foie gras across 10 U.S. states where related legislation is under consideration. Read the full report here: AHPC Public Perspectives on…
Read More